Metal bedstead



C. H. BUSCH.

METAL BEDSTEAD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8, 191B.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

C. H. BUSCH.

METAL BEDSTEAD.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 8. 191a.

L yy gflfi, Patented Nov. 115, 1921..

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

orri'cs.

CHARLES H. BUSCH, 0F KEN'OSHA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO SIMMONS COMPANY, OF

:KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METAL BEDSTEAD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Applicatipn filed February 8, 1918. Serial No. 215,967.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. BUSCH, a citizenof the United States, residing in the city of Kenosha, county of Kenosha, and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Bedsteads, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in metal bedsteads, and has special reference to the corner connection used for securing the side rails to the head and foot ends of bedsteads.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an improved metal bedstead construction in which the side bar of the springsupporting structure is utilized as one of the side rails of the bedstead; to provide an improved construction of the class described which may be rapidly and economically manufactured from sheet metal; to provide a construction of the class described which shall be neat and ornamental in appearance, while at the same time being of great mechanical strength and rigidity; to provide a detachable construction of the class described which may be easily and conveniently disconnected without the use of tools and in general to provide an improved construction of the character referred to.

In the drawings which illustrate my invention as applied to a light steel continuous post bedstead, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the bedstead equipped with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of my improved corner connections;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 with the side rail portion removed.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the side rail portion of the joint shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view looking in the direction of the arrows 5-5 in Fig. 4:;

Fig. 6 is an axial section of the assembly shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the assembly shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 88 of Fig. 6.

lleferringto the drawings, 10 and 11 represent the head and foot ends of a continuous post light steel three-piece bedstead, the

other element of which, viz., the spring,

constitutes the side rails or connection between the said head and foot ends 10 and 11. In the present instance, the spring proper 12 is of a link fabric type resiliently stretched between the head and foot bars 13 by means of suitable helicals, for instance, as shown on 14. The said bars 13 which are of the usual angle iron construction are carried by sheet metal stampings 15 on the ends of the side rails 16. As shown best in Fig. 5, the side rail 16 is a tubular member which is made oval in cross-section in order to furnish great transverse rigidity, thus enabling it to resist the pull of the spring fabric 12 without bending or collapsing under the strain.

Describing the construction of the sheet metal stamping 15, it will be observed that it is composed of a single piece of sheet metal substantially U-shaped in cross-section (see Fig. 5), the lower portion thereof being conformed to fit around the oval tubular member 16. In order to prevent the said members 15 from sliding toward each other along the side tube 16, the bottoms of the said stampings 15 are preferably punched in as shown best in Fig. 6 in order to provide a stop 17 against which the end of the said tube 16 abuts. On that side of the U- shaped stamping 15 which is toward the opposite end of the bedstead the two sides of the U are brought together as shown'at 18 and rigidly united by means of suitable rivets 19. It will be observed that the lower end 20 of the united edges of the said stamping forms a stop or abutment engaging the upper side of the oval side rail 16 and thus enables the stamping 15 to resist the pull of the spring.

The cross members 13 are supported on the upper ends of the U-shaped stampings 15 and are prevented from becoming displaced therefrom by reason of the pull of the'spring fabric 12 due to the helicals 14. Lateral displacement of the said angle iron 13 is prevented by integral lugs 21 which enter corresponding slots punched in the vertical lug of the angle.

Describing the means for det-achably uniting the side rail connections 15 to the bed post 22, it will be observed that the sides of the U-shaped stamping 15 are depressed as shown best at 23 in Fig. 8 and perforated to accommodate a transverse pin or rivet 24; the heads 25 of which are located in the said depressions 23. llhe said pin or rivet 24 constitutes one member of a wedging connection; the other element of which comprises a member 25 secured to the post and provided with an inclined slot 26 adapted to receive said pin 24:. The member 25 is preferably formed of sheet metal as shown best in Fig. ,8 and in plan is of elongated U-shape, the metal portion of the U being reduced at the top and bottom as shown in Fig. 6 in order to enter. a rectangular aperture punched in the side of the post 22. That portion 27 of the member 25, which 1s located outside of the post 22, is of considerably greater vertical dimensions than the inner part 28 so that the outer or head portlon 27 will be drawn up tightly against the outside of the post when the wedge 29 is driven into the loop portion 28. In order to prevent the outer ends of the member 25 from approaching too closely,'I prefer to bend over a pair of lugs as shown at 30 which butt against each other as shown at 81 in Fig. 8. In connecting the rail 16 to the post 22, the bracket or riser 15 is slipped over the projecting end of the connector 25 and forced downwardly so that the pin 24: engages the notch 26. Owing to the wedge action of the outer wall of the notch 26, the bracket 154s forced against the outer wall of the post and the connector 25, drawn outwardly so that a tight and rigid connection is assured. This is effected even if the wedge 29 fits loosely in the loop 28, as the action ofconnecting the bracket with the connector serves to clamp the wall of the post tightly between the wedge pin 29 and the end of the bracket or riser 15.

In order to prevent injury to the tube when the wedge 29 is insertedin' the loop 28, I prefer toequip the interior of the tube with a stiffening plate 32 suitably conformed to the inner periphery of the post. Similarly the outer surface of the post 22 is protected and strengthened by an outer plate, or rectangular washer 33, also suitably shaped to fit the tube and having its outer surface 34 substantially fiat whereby there is furnished. a suitable abutment for the end of the U-shaped stamping 15.

In order to save metal and secure a light weight construction, the U-shaped stamping 15 is preferably made of comparatively thin gage sheet steel and in such case I may, if desired, stiffen the said part and hold it in shape by means of .a small connecting piece 35 welded to and between the opposed sides of the stamping. (See Figs. 5 and 6.)

Since the described details of construction aremerely illustrative of my invention, the scope thereof should be determined by reference to the appended. claims.

I claim:

1. In a three-piece metal bedstead, the combination of a post, a side rail for connecting the opposite ends of the bedstead, a

sheet metal part shaped to inclose the end of said rail, integral portions of said part being spaced apart, extending upwardly, and abutting against the post, a resilient bed bottom supporting element secured to the upper extremities of said spaced apart portions, and means for locking said abutting portions to said post.

2. In a metal bedstead the combination of a post, a rail, a sheet metal part inclosing the end of said rail, said part having portions extending above the said rail and abutting edgewise against said post, and interengaging means carried respectively by said post and said part for holding said abutting portions against said post.

3. In a metal bedstead the combination of a post, a side rail, and a connection for said rail and post comprising a sheet metal stamping bent intermediate its ends into a substantially U-shape to embrace the end of said rail, the ends of said U extending upwardly from the bend and abutting against the post, and means for holding said abutting portions in tight engagement with said post.

4. In a metal bedstead the combination of a post, a side rail, and a connection for said post and rail comprising a sheet metal stamping of substantially U-shape in vertical cross-section the lower part of said U inclosing the end of said rail, portions of said stamping spaced from the post being united together to fit and engage said rail and means for holding said stamping with its U- shape cross-section in engagement with said post.

5. In a 3-piece bedstead the combination of a post, a side rail, a connection for said post and rail comprising a sheet metal stamping of substantially U-shape' in vertical oross-section the lower part of said U inclosing and fitting the end of said rail, side portions of said stamping remote from the post being united together to form an abutment for the upper surface of said rail, interengaging means carried respectively by said post and said stamping for directly connecting the stamping to the post, a cross piece carried by the upper end of said stamping, and a bed spring connected to the said piece and exerting pull thereon.

6. In a metal bedstead the combination of a post, a side rail for connecting opposite ends of the bedstead, a hollow sheet metal part substantially U-shaped in vertical crosssection, its lower end being fitted around said rail, and the arms of the U being spaced apart a substantial distance and engaging the side of said post a horizontal member extending between opposite sides of said stamping and a part carried by said post and having wedging engagement with said member for forcing the said U-shaped part into tight fitting engagement with the said post.

7. In combination, a post constructed of light weight tubing and having an apertured wall, an outer washer-like stiffening plate having an inner face conformed to an tting flat against the outer surface of the post and having an aperture registering with the post aperture, a connecting member provided with a loop portion extending through the apertures into-the post and se cured in said post a ainst withdrawal, and having a head engaglng the outer surface of. the plate, thereby anchoring said plate to the post, a stiffening plate inside the post and secured against the inner surface ofthe wall by said connector, a side rail, a stamping secured to the end of the rail and engaging the outer face of said outer plate, and a pair of cooperatin wedge parts respectively provided on t e connector and on the stamping for forcing the stamping toward the post and thereby clamping the wall thereof between said plates.

8. In combination, a post constructed of light weight tubing and having an apertured wall, an outer washer-like stiifening plate having an inner face conformed to and fit- ,ting flat against the outer surface of the post post aperture, a strip and having an aperture registering with the metal integral connecting member provlded with an intermediate folded'portion constitutingaloop extending through the apertures into the post, an internal key wedgingly engaged in said loop for securing the latter in said post against withdrawal, said connecting member having its ends parallel and extending vertically above and below said plate aperture and engaging the outer surface of the plate, thereby anchoring said plate to the post, a side rail, a stamping secured to the end of the rail and engaging the outer face of said outer plate, and a pair of cooperating wedge parts respectively provided on the connector and on the stamping for forcing the stamping toward the'post and thereby clamping the wall thereof between said key and plate.

9. In a bed bottom, the combination of a side rail, a plate looped under the end of the side rail and having spaced walls extending thereahove, said walls having lateral portions bent inwardly over the rail and joined together to provide a reinforcing seam bearing endwise against the rail, and a fabric connected at a tension to the upper ends of the lateral walls of theplate so as to exert an endwise strain on the seam.

CHARLES H. BUSCH. 

